The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi everyone,

I’ve always wanted a repeater attachment and have always thought they were incredibly neat devices. I finally found someone here who sold me one and have an Edison Model B Home to install it in. I’m having lots of trouble and am hoping for some guidance.

First of all, I’ve got the piece and a general idea of where they go but am still very confused (I’m not even sure if the formal name of the pieces.

It seems to me that the mandrel with feedscrew needs to come out of the machine, and the hearing at the end of the feedscrew needs to be swapped out with the pulley that is currently in there (that the belt drives). I am having major difficulty getting this off! After a great struggle I removed the two set screws and managed to move the feed screw out a few millimeters, but not further than that. I put some three in one oil in the screw holes and will let it sit overnight before attempting again. Is there any other advice? Photo below.

When I get the pulley off, it seems that there is another one to our back on, but it is two pieces, which articulate. Inside there is a very small gear. What is the point of this and how do I install it onto the feedscrew shaft?

How do I install the black lever piece and where does it clamp to?

Also, how do I mount this to the base plate? There are two small holes in the black plate which holds the spiral shaft. Do I need to drill out the base plate? How is this done and what screws should be used to hold it in place?

Lastly, what is the purpose of the zig zag piece of metal installed near the base plate which articulates with the spiral screw?

So many questions! It’s a fun project - but I’m really need some guidance. There are plenty of YouTube videos showing them working, but none on installation. Thank you everyone! Photos below.

Photos

Lastly, this repeater is marked with a “B”. What does this refer to? I’m thinking this is a Model D repeater, but on the hearing there is a very clear letter “B”.

Wow! Neat! You have the 2/4 minute repeater kit! You would need to have a 2/4 min conversion kit on your Home Model B for this one to work correctly! PM me your phone number and I will give you a call! I got a repeater from Mark Albertson--but it was factory installed. I still had to tinker around with it and had a lot of fun! If you are starting from scratch, you will also need to drill/tap a couple of holes on your bedplate to mount the repeater mechanism. I have only seen one 2/4 minute repeater in person--so I think they are more uncommon. You would barely be able to repeat a 4 min cylinder 3 times on a new spring in a Home! And it was on a Triumph--which could play longer. I think the mechanism could be used on a Triumph or Home--just the same.

Mike Sorter
Riverside, CA

I thought this might be the case. The only bad news is that I don’t have a 2/4 minute machine other than a Maroon GEM. Do you think I could still install it on my 2 minute home and have it work just in two minute cylinders? Any and all help would be great!

Unfortunately, no! I thought about it at first, but I looked at mine and it would not work. Try Mark G. "Croakinfrog" on ebay. What you need is to either get just the mandrel for a conversion kit for a Model B Home, or you can get just the side pulley. I have seen Mark have that for sale--alone. All the rest of the pieces are the same. Good luck!

Mike Sorter

Thank you for the advice! I managed to get a 2/4 minute gearing conversion from Mark! I’m excited to work on this project. I’ve got a model K reproducer so it will be perfect for this machine. I’m having terrible trouble removing the side pulley from the end of the feed screw. Any ideas? I was able to get the set screws out and I put three in one oil in the holes and around the edges of the pulley. It budged a few millimeters but the no further. It’s probably been on there for 100 years or more! Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you all!

Any advice taking the mandrel apart? That pulley in the far left is really stuck! I applied penetrating oil - no luck. Help!

Try a little heat on that pulley. It'll help with that old grease that has harden.

Larry Crandell

That’s a good thought. But how to heat it?